Improvement in car-coupling draw-bars



3 sneaks-sheen 1. E. H. JANNEY. l Car-Coupling Draw-Bar.

No. 207,525. Patented Aug.,27,187s.

Vig l,

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

` B.H.JANNBY. Car-Coupling Draw-Bar;

No. 207,525. f Patented Aug. 27, 187s.

i 3 Shee'ts-Sheet. 3. E. H. JANNBY.. Gar-Coupling Draw-Bar.

No. 201,525. Patented Aug. 27,1878;y

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ELI H. JANNEY, OFv ALEXANDRIA, VIRGIIUA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLlNG DRAW-BARS.

Specification forming pnrt of Letters Patent No. 207.525, dated August 27', i878; application llled May 12, .1876.

To all whom 'toimy conce-rn.'

Be it known that 1', ELI H. JANNEY, of Alexandria, in the county of Alexandria and State ofA Virginia, have invented a newl and useful Improvement 4in Car-Coupling Draw- Bars; and I'do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description ot the same, reference bei ng had to the accompanyfingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention is designed to furnish animproved draw-bar for use in that class of couplings covered by my previous patents; and it icon'sists, mainly, rst, in the combination,

with `a carplatt'orm and a single draft-bar, of

ltwo independent springs, both of which are Aadapted to yield when strain is exerted in a forward direction, and one only when strain -is exerted in a rearward direction, by means of which the draft-bar is adapted to move from its. norma-l position relatively to the platform more Yreadily and to a greater extentin'a forward direct-ion than in a rearward one., for

purposes hereinafterlexplained; second, in the` combination, with; a platform-and a single draft-bar, of two independent-springs ot' nequal power, the-stron ger ot' which is vadapted to receive all the buing-strain and a portion also of the @haft-strain, and the weaker the draft-strain. only. It further consists in certain details ofcoustrnction, which, in connection with the foregoing, will be fully described hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view ot" acar and platform-frame reversed I having my invention applied' thereto Fig. 2,

Aand use my invention, I will now proceed toA describe fully its construction and manner of operation.

A A, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, represent the timhers or beams ofthe frame to which the drawbar and lits connections are attached. B B, Figs. 1, 3, and 5 represent irons vrml;T bolted to the lower edges of the beams A A, which are so bent or otherwise shaped. as to form thespaces b b Figs. 3 and 5, for holding thc ends of the plates, and permitting theln to have proper play. C Gl C2 represent the following-plates, ot identical construct-ion, each consisting of 'a main portion, c, Fig. 5, adapted to furnish a proper bearing-surface for the springs, .and projecting ends c', adapted to he held in the spaces of the bars. B B, as shown. D represents a spring, ot' snit-able construction, interposedV between the following-plates U C', and D' a similar spring-interposed between the plates C C, as shown. E represents the draft bolt or bar, consisting of a rod having a head or shoulder at its rear end, which cxtends through the followingqilates and springs, and is -provided in front with any suitable draw-head or couplingfdevice. F represents a washer, one or more 'of which may be. employed, it desired, to regulate the tension ot the spring D or the extent of its vibration.

` The following-plate C,..it will be observed,-

when in its normal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, rests against the rear wall ot' the space b', and hence is not capable of moving in a backward direction, but is free' to move in a. forward one when acted on by the spi-in g D in its forward movement. 1 y

The following-plate` C,v on the other hand, it will be observed, does not rest agaii-istj the rear wall of the space when in its normalposition, but is held a short distance from it-,- the spring D, between it and the followingplatc 0*, consequentlybeing slightly compressed. 'lhe plate. is adjusted to this portion to compress the spring by properly'reguiating the distance intervening between the head' `of the` draft-bolt and. the shoulder oi' the draw-head attached thereto, as shown.

G G, Figs. 1,2,a1id3 .represent strengthening bars or plates, which may, it'desired,-lb r1n .a part of the irons 13 B, but are preferably independentv of them. These are secured atonc end, however, to a common bolt, so that theadvantagesot' a continuous plate-are oh tained, while-the Aconstruction at thesame time is made more simple. Theyextcndabout the ends of the beams A and the butter-beam in the manner shown, forthe purpose of binding the two strongly together, aad also to give increased strength and rigidity `to the platform as a whole.

The operation of my invention is substantially as follows: When the engine startsto move the train both springs yield readily un: der the strain, and permit the cars to be moved at successive intervals, by which means the engine is aided in overcoming the inertia, the entire train not being started at the same iustant.

When the movement', however, is in a reverse direction, and the ears come together with great violence, both springs do not yield beyond their normal position; but one of them, D', possessing great strength, resists alonev the bufiin g-strain.

lho operation in detail is as follows: When strani isi-exerted in a forward direction the spring D, being' more elastic 'than its'fellow',

.yields rst, and also. moves 4the greatest dis,

the strain s borne by the spring-D', which,

heilig of great strength, is adapted to receive it, the action of the' parts being represented in Fig. No st'ra'in 'iscommunicated to the spring l), because the following-plate C* has no backward movement. This spring, however, being slightly compressed when in its normal position, follows the head of the drawfbolt in its rearward movement, and prevents lost motion, so that 1n starting forward again the bolt has no play, but always acts against the 'tension of the spring'. The construction of, the parte is such also that in bufng thev platforms will take the concussion before the 'spring D is entirely compressed, and so prevv'cntit from being injured or destroyed.

From this description it will bc'understood that although the cars of a train may be united by a coupling having no longitudinal play, still, by means of this invention, they are permitted to move at successive intervals to aid the enginc'in startin".

It will also be understomi that the extent of vibration in a forward direction from the norinal position does not determine the extent of the vibration in a rearward direction from the .same point. as is the casein the ordinary coupling, but that thc former is much greater in extent thanv the latter, this being a result of great importance in couplings hai ingl no loi:- gitudinal play.

4Some of the advantages of the described construction are asfollows: The coupling iu practically rigid in a longitudinal direction,

and hence has all the advantages arising from t 'spring of greater or less length may be ein ployed, as may be desired.'

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1. The combination, with a ear-platform and single draft-bar, of two independent springs, both of which are adapted vto yield when strain is exerted iny a forward directiou'and one onlyJ when strain is exerted in a rearward direction", substantially as described.

, 2.v The combination, with a car-platform and single draft-bar, of two independent,springs of unequal power, the stronger of Awhich is adapted to take all the bufIing-strain `and n portion also of the draft-strain, and thewcaker the d raft-strain only, substantiallyas described'.

3. In combination with a platform overhang ing the coupling, 'tliel strengthening-plates (i G, as described. v

4.' In combination with a draw-head draftbolt, the compressed spring l) and the following-plate C, the construction being such that l the lost motion of the draw-head in bufling is taken up by the expansion of the sp's'ng, as

described.

5. 'In combination with a single.'draw-bar and two independent springs, and the follow ing-plates C1 C at the ends of the draw-bar, the intermediate platey 01, adapted to yield when strain is exerted in a forward direction, but to resist strain in a rearward direction, substantially as described.

v6. The combination of the springs D Dj with the followingvplatcs C Cl C and drawbolt, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 3d day of May, 1876.

ELI H. JANNEY.

Witnesses:

HARnY G. CLARK, M. E. S'rALLiNGs. 

